The control of police activities is one the main aspects of democratic regimes. It is necessary, therefore, a debate on the types of proposed measures to control the polices. Aiming to contribute to the debate, this article analyses some institutional reforms, both internal and external to the New York Police Department and its effects on the relationship between the police and the society. We realized that the reforms aiming to change some police institutionalized practices were more successful than those that focused on the individual punishment of misconduct.